Russia is increasing its presence in West Africa through a soft power approach that focuses on cultural, educational, and agricultural cooperation. In Ghana, the Center for Public Diplomacy (CPD) of the Russian Federation has established a hub in Accra, offering various cultural activities, educational programs, and agricultural initiatives. The CPD's Executive Director, Dr. Nataliia Krasovskaia, emphasizes that culture is central to this approach, helping people understand each other beyond politics. The CPD's work in Ghana and other West African countries reflects a shift in Russia's diplomatic efforts, prioritizing people-to-people connections and everyday experiences.
The Russian House in Accra has become a platform for cultural exchange between Russia and Ghana. The center offers film screenings, poetry recitals, language lessons, and art masterclasses, celebrating traditional Russian festivals like Maslenitsa and Victory Day. These activities create opportunities for direct engagement between young Ghanaians and Russian culture. In 2024, Ghana's then-opposition leader and current President, John Dramani Mahama's memoir, was launched in its Russian translation at the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow, illustrating the two-way nature of cultural diplomacy.
Education is a key pillar of the CPD's work in Ghana, with partnerships established with 12 Ghanaian educational institutions, including universities and technical colleges. In the Bono-East Region, preparatory faculties have been set up in partnership with Novosibirsk State Technical University, while an engineering class in the Volta Region introduces secondary-school students to physics, mathematics, programming, and energy studies, alongside Russian language instruction. The goal is to prepare students for further education in Russia, with over 270 students enrolled in local Russian-language programs and 28 Ghanaian students securing direct university admission in Russia for 2026.
The CPD is also investing in training Ghanaian teachers and lecturers in Russian language instruction through cooperation with Yaroslavl State Pedagogical University. This approach seeks to establish lasting connections between Ghanaian educators, students, and Russian institutions. By building familiarity and creating opportunities for educational cooperation, the CPD aims to lay the groundwork for longer-term partnerships between Ghana and Russia.
Agricultural cooperation is another important aspect of the CPD's work in Ghana, with potential areas of collaboration including technical training, scientific research, technology transfer, and modern farming methods. The emphasis is on connecting education and research to the needs of local communities, with Dr. Krasovskaia highlighting the importance of giving people knowledge they can use when they return home. This approach prioritizes local application and sustainability, making international cooperation more meaningful.
The CPD's work in Ghana is part of a broader continental presence, operating in 12 African countries, with plans to expand to 14 countries by the end of 2026. Under the leadership of General Director Dmitrii Savelyev in Moscow, the organization is developing a network that combines cultural engagement with educational and humanitarian cooperation. This expansion reflects Russia's efforts to deepen its relationships across Africa, where international partnerships increasingly encompass education, agriculture, technology, trade, and other areas of development.
The success of these initiatives will depend on their ability to deliver tangible results and establish lasting connections between Ghanaian and Russian institutions. For African countries, the central consideration is how these relationships serve their own priorities, with cultural exchange, educational partnerships, and agricultural cooperation offering opportunities for skills development and knowledge transfer. As Russia continues to expand its soft power footprint in West Africa, the impact of these efforts will be closely watched.
Key points
- Russia is building relationships with West African countries through cultural, educational, and agricultural cooperation.
- The Center for Public Diplomacy has established a hub in Accra, offering various cultural activities, educational programs, and agricultural initiatives.
- The CPD's work in Ghana and other West African countries reflects a shift in Russia's diplomatic efforts, prioritizing people-to-people connections and everyday experiences.
